SEO vs Social Media: Where Should You Really Focus in 2025?

In the race to attract more patients, clinic owners often ask:

“Should I focus on Google or Instagram?”

“Is SEO still relevant in 2025?”

The truth? Both SEO and social media have their place—but they serve different purposes, and the ROI isn’t always equal.

Let’s break it down.

1. SEO = Intent. Social = Awareness.

SEO brings people who are already looking for what you offer:

• “Massage therapist near me”
• “Direct billing chiropractor Toronto”
• “Best physiotherapist for sports injury”

These are bottom-of-funnel leads—people ready to book.

Social media, meanwhile, helps you stay visible and build relationships. It’s great for:

• Sharing education & behind-the-scenes
• Retaining existing patients
• Humanizing your brand

But most people aren’t opening Instagram to find a therapist. That’s what Google is for.

2. SEO Has Longer-Lasting Results

A blog post optimized for the right keyword can bring traffic for months or years.

An Instagram Reel? Maybe 48 hours.

With SEO:

• You rank for local terms
• You build compounding traffic
• Your site value grows over time

It’s a marketing asset, not just a post.

3. Social Media Requires Constant Output

Let’s be honest: posting daily is a job in itself.

If your clinic doesn’t have a content creator, it’s easy to burn out.

And the algorithm? It rewards volume and engagement, not necessarily value.

SEO, on the other hand, can be systematized:

• Monthly blogs
• Optimized service pages
• Google Business updates

Set it. Track it. Improve it.

4. A Hybrid Approach Is Best

We recommend using:

• SEO for traffic, discovery & conversions
• Social for nurturing, referrals & community

The problem? Most clinics only do one, and neither fully.

At northtormt.com/, we help our exclusive members get:

• Targeted traffic from Google
• Done-for-you blog content
• Branding support for social + local presence

You don’t have to choose. You just need a plan.

Let Us Show You How It Works

Want to see how clinics like yours are balancing SEO and social without burning out?

We recorded a free, on-demand training to break it all down.

Watch our free training replay

🧠 Final Thought from Henry:

Your time is precious. Don’t chase algorithms—build assets.

Let Google bring in new patients while social keeps them loyal

northtormt.com/ — Helping You Grow with Strategy, Not Just Tactics.